Columnists | The Prairie Press

June is National Safety Month, and the Edgar County Public Health Department wants to educate the public about various topics regarding s ummer safety. There are many outdoor activities taking place … more

By Lexanna Kocher | 6/20/23

Fear is often a barrier to seeking treatment

Addiction is a complex and chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It can have serious physical, mental and emotional consequences, and can make it difficult for individuals to … more

By Jonathan Burns | 9/9/23

Taking a look back to the 1940s, somethings are different, while some things have stayed the same.

An old-time way of doing things

Let’s go back to the early 1940s when I was starting school, that was before school buses were the norm around here. A lot of our neighboring boys were leaving for the Army or Navy and a … more

Roger Stanley - Notes from the prairie | 12/22/23

Don't roll the dice on gambling

Gambling machines are pervasive in our region, found in gas stations, convenience stores and local bars. While playing these machines is a harmless pastime for some, others can quickly spiral into a … more

By Jonathan Burns | 6/20/23

Lack of access to reliable transportation can prevent individuals from getting to a community mental health center for assessment and treatment, ultimately hindering their recovery journey.

Lack of Transportation

Transportation can be a significant barrier to accessing addiction treatment, especially for individuals living in rural or low-income areas. Lack of access to reliable transportation can prevent … more

Jonathan Burns - Finding Wellness | 12/22/23

Christmas is one of the best times of the year, but it can take a toll on schedules and wallets.

Budget Woes and Mistletoe

It is the most wonderful time of the year. I love seeing all the festive decorations, hearing the jingle of silver bells as we walk in and out of the store and enjoying the smell of sugar cookies … more

Jenny McMahan - Bee Well | 12/22/23

A sculpture depicting a Great Depression breadline at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Lasting results of the Great Depression

One of the most impactful periods of U. S. history was the Great Depression. Roughly speaking, it was from the early 1930s until the early 1940s, and it was a time when the U. S. economy tanked big … more

Allen Englebright - Old Codger | 1/8/24

Illinois retains the signature geography the violent Kimberlite eruptions that almost happened nearly 200 million years ago.

Illinois was once volcanically active

Start this year with a geography quiz. What is the only state capital in the US built directly on top of a volcano? And second, where is the primary source of fluorite mined in the U.S. found? … more

Terry Sullivan - Armchair Science | 1/8/24

There are many positives to having a gym membership. The Rec has many opportunities to improve yourself and they have even more great opportunities on the horizon.

What’s Your Reason?

Why should you get a gym membership at The Rec? There is a plethora of physical and mental health benefits like losing weight, becoming stronger, working off stress and letting the endorphins … more

Kelly Nicholson - Weighing in with the Rec | 1/8/24

The countdown begins to the Greatest Show on Earth

Today, April 8, is two days after the April full moon, one day before Easter and exactly 366 days until the Greater American Eclipse unfolds April 8, 2024. Starting now there will be 12 full and … more

By Terry Sullivan | 4/10/23

Uses for rubber bands

Seems like schoolkids are victims of at least a couple annual fads every year. One usually rolls around in the spring after the cold weather season passes. That’s water guns, which … more

By Allen Englebright | 4/10/23

Beating a broken heart

A broken heart comes in all kinds of ways and at any age. The relationship is over whether by word or text. The unexpected call saying they didn’t make it. The long road of winning is … more

By Nate Alexander | 4/10/23

Music is a family journey

When I was little, my dad and I shared a lot of our musical taste. I played travel basketball through eighth grade which meant we spent a lot of time in the car together. It was inevitable the radio … more

By Bethanny Lawson | 4/10/23

Tales from the boat

Some guys are born to be hunters and fishermen. I never had those genes in my DNA makeup. Consequently, I’ve never been on many small boat rides. Never water-skied. Never fished … more

By Allen Englebright | 8/20/23

HRC is good for business

The concept of a trauma-informed workplace has gained significant traction in the modern business world. Creating a safe and calm environment for employees can enhance their job satisfaction, … more

By Jonathan Burns | 4/10/23

Depending on a father’s love

A feature of the churches I serve is the public sharing of joys and concerns on Sunday mornings. This gives those in attendance a chance to publicly share their blessings and needs. It … more

By Troy Horne | 8/20/23

Out of the Past

Here is a compilation of stories appearing in the April 1923 Paris Beacon-News. Spelling and punctuation have not been changed except for better understanding. O’HAIR GIVES CREDIT TO … more

By Callie Baber | 4/10/23

The great monarch migration is approaching

It’s mid-August and monarch populations are peaking. Those beloved butterflies with orange and black stripes and white dots on their wings seem to dart in random paths through the air. … more

By Terry Sullivan | 8/20/23

Weather makes life exciting

We hear the weathermen talking about tornadoes this time of year on both the radio and television. Many times while subbing at schools when I checked in at the office a secretary generally gave me a … more

By Roger Stanley | 4/10/23

Out of the Past

Here is a compilation of stories appearing in the August 1924 issue of the Paris Beacon-News. The July 1923 volume is misplaced so Out of the Past is 99 years instead of a century. RUM RUNNERS … more

By Callie Baber | 8/20/23